Mycoprotein, life cycle analysis and the food 2030 challenge.

Food 2030, the UK Government's strategic response to developing a sustainable food supply chain, suggests a need to reduce our consumption of meat and its impact on our health and the environment. Quorn is the world's leading meat free brand and is based on a unique protein called mycoprotein. Diets rich in mycoprotein have been reported to offer a beneficial effect on health, particularly in tackling obesity. A Life cycle Analysis (LCA) of a mycoprotein food product, Quorn mince has been carried out in order to begin to understand the environmental impact. Issues encountered with carrying out the LCA are discussed and conclusions presented to show that whilst more work is needed, Quorn mince may have half the embedded carbon when compared with beef. The acknowledged health benefits of mycoprotein combined with lower levels of embedded carbon compared with meat suggest a valuable role for Quorn with consumers who wish to reduce meat consumption without sacrificing the recipes and food textures they enjoy.